Dakota's pov

"What are you doing?" my mom asked me from behind.

"Punching the bag?" I said rolling my eyes.

We were at the gym. According to mom my fight was good, but it lacked technique. I was being reckless and let my anger control the best of me. So now she was in full training mood and was totally acting like my mentor.

"You know that's not how I showed it. " she said scolding me.

"Mom I'm just doing my own thing..." I groaned.

She just stared at me while I kept punching the bag. Sweat trickled down my forehead and neck as I concentrated on my work.

"Stop. "

I paused and looked at my mother.

"Your moves are very predictable. If you want to defeat someone, make your moves unpredictable and strong. Even if it's a blow to the chest it should be full of power and strength. Mix things up. Do a three punch combo and add a round kick." she said ; "And try to breathe with each strike."

I nodded my head and followed her instructions. I did a three punch combo and added a round kick to the punching back making it move only by a little.

"Breathe.. " she kept on saying.

I tried the same thing again but got the same result.

"You aren't breathing-"

"I am breathing! " I said agitated. "This bag weighs a frigging ton!"

She shook her head as she positioned herself. She threw the first punch, the second punch and the third punch followed by a kick and the bag flew to the other side touching the wall.

I gaped at her.

Even in this age she was tremendously strong.

"With each strike you breathe. If you're losing control while punching just a bag, how will you keep your control when you're actually fighting someone? You're so busy taking all out on the bag that you forget to breathe and your kick doesn't contain any power!" she scolded me.

I nodded my head and started practising again.

----

After practising for over hours, my body hurt and I was totally exhausted. My mom came towards me with a water bottle and gave it to me as I panted.

"Here. " she said softly.

I gladly took the bottle and drank down half of its contents.

"Mom.. You're so good at this. Why did you do counseling when you could easily open up your gym centre and train students? I mean you are no less than a professional!" I said smiling widely.

She chuckled. "Your father would've never allowed it and frankly it never crossed my mind. By the way I'm sorry if I was too harsh on you today.. It's just when I'm teaching you, I can't help but be strict.."

I hugged her.

"Mom you are not only my best friend but also my mentor and I would never expect softness from you while I'm training. It's your duty to be strict and make me learn stuff. " I said smiling.

She smiled back.

"Com'on let's go back home."

After we reached home, I straight went upstairs and got into the shower. I reeked of sweat. Today's training really wore me out. I heard the door to my room open and Adrian calling me.

"In here! " I shouted from the shower; "Just a minute I'm coming Ady!"

I got out wearing sweatpants and my brother's shirt. They were so damn comfortable, that I could just be in them all day!

He looked at me and opened his arms. I smiled and ran into them hugging him back.

"How are you?" he asked rubbing his hands on my hair.

I snuggled closer and mumbled "I'm okay. Just a little exhausted."

"Where were you and mom? I came back to see the house empty!"

I tried to make up something. He didn't know that I was being trained by mom that to even in a gym!

"Uh.. We went shopping!" I lied easily. I felt horrible for lying to him but.. I didn't have a choice.

He was silent for sometime.

I pulled back and rested my head on his lap to which he just shifted so that I could be comfortable.

"Have you heard anything from Emmet?" I asked him.

"No. He was at school but he just ignored me. " I could clearly hear the frown in his voice.

"What's up with you two?"

"I don't know Ady. He only said that he likes me but recently he's been acting all weird and distant. He doesn't talk to me and whenever he does I can't find my best friend in him anymore. I don't know what's wrong.. I just need him to explain that why this sudden change? " I said sighing.

"Maybe you should go and talk to him." he suggested.

I simply nodded.

"What about you? How're things with Alice? " I asked chuckling.

"Not this please.." he groaned.

"Pretty pwease brother! Tell me!"

"Okay.. " he sighed. "She's amazing. She's so bubbly and full of life. She's always so reserved but once she starts about something she keeps on blabbering about it and never stops. Well I don't mind.. She's different. She blushes when I compliment her and gets irritated when I try to get all cocky. She's really a good companion.. "

I smiled. I could already see that my brother was smitten over that girl. Well who wouldn't? She was really a nice and attractive girl with so much goodness in her.

"She a keeper.." I looked at him and said.

He smiled and nodded.

"By the way Chris was searching for you today.. " he said smirking, "he looked really restless and was eager to meet you. I told him that you needed rest and that he could see you tomorrow.."

I blushed. Chris asked for me? Hearing what my brother said made me want to jump up and down and squeal like a child who got her teddy bear.

Composing myself I just nodded.

He chuckled sensing my obvious condition.

"Okay now move. I gotta go and practise for tomorrow's guitar class. I'll see you at dinner. "

I kissed his cheek to which he ruffled my hair and then moved out of my room.

I lay on my back thinking.

There was so much in my mind. Thoughts of Chris made me go all mushy and happy whereas thoughts of Emmet made me worried and sad.

Truth is I miss my best friend.

I don't know what happened, I don't know where it went all wrong but I'm losing him. There were no longer laughs, no piggy back rides, no football matches and no us..

I glanced at the wall where a picture of me, Emmet, Rosalie and Adrian hung. We were 6 years old and all had toothy grins plastered on our faces. Emmet had his hand behind my neck and I had mine around his.

We were so happy back then.

Then I made a decision.

I can't lose my best friend. I had to try. I had to atleast approach him.

Without wasting my time I jumped off my bed and started running downstairs. It was 7 in the evening and I hope he would be there.

Mom was probably in her room coz I didn't see anyone in the dining room.

I opened the front door and ran towards his front porch. I was nervous as what to say to him after that situation that day, but I was determined to talk to him.

I was about to knock but suddenly heard some noises. I paused and listened mor carefully by pushing my ear against the door.

I gasped.

I backed away from it and looked to my right to see if any window was open or not.

Luck was on my side as I went there and pushed the curtain slightly to peek inside.

Tears streamed down my face seeing Emmet having sex with a blond haired girl on the living room's couch.

No. It's not like I'm in love with him or something. But he said he liked me and I thought he was being serious! I still remember his face when I was taking time to answer his so called 'proposal'. And I remember his face when, for his happiness I said 'yes'. I forgot all about my comfort zone and tried to give our relationship a go.

All because of him.

For my best friend.

A rough, choked sob escaped my lips as I turned back and went inside my house.

This was too much.

There were so many things going on already in my life and suddenly my best friend too, cheats on me.

My sobs became unbearable and I sat down near the stairs with my face in between my hands.

And I cried.

I cried for that 'nearly rape' accident. I cried for that picture depicting me as a slut. I cried for losing my best friend.

Suddenly I felt soft yet firm hands pulling me in for a hug. I saw mom looking at me softly. She pulled my head in her chest and mumbled "It's okay. Let it out."

And without thinking I let out all of the frustrations, sadness and anger. I cried in my mother's arms which were soon joined by another pair. I knew it was Adrian smelling the masculine scent.

That night I truly felt that I wasn't alone. My mother and my brother would always be with me no matter what the situation is. They would always stick around and would help me through everything.

That night, I fell asleep in my brother's arms - feeling totally safe and protected.

-------

The next morning was the beginning of the weekends and I was glad for it. I've had too much drama since past few days.

I yawned as I glanced beside, to see my brother who had his arms around me like his most precious thing. I smiled to myself as I slowly got up and tried not to wake him up.

I kissed his forehead and went out of his room.

Some voices could be heard downstairs so I went down the stairs to watch what was going on.

My eyebrows rose.

Emmet's mom was here. Well that's a first. She never bothered to come around. Moreover she didn't stay with him. I saw her talking to my mom wearing a pencil skirt and a blouse. As usual her face was covered with a cloth, completely hiding her hairs and nose to her jaw. Only her blue eyes were visible.

Well to clear the confusion. According to Emmet, his mom had abusive parents and they used to abuse her badly by hitting her on her face. One day her mother hit her with a hot knife, creating a burned scar on her cheeks. Since then she hid her face.

Her mother glanced towards me and I waved at her slightly. She nodded her head in acknowledgement. Mom turned towards me sending me a sad smile .

"You should go and talk to Emmet. Maybe it's the last time you'll see him. " mom said.

What?

"What are you talking about?" I asked in a whisper.

She just jerked her head towards the door where I saw Emmet standing with a solemn expression on his face.

I clenched my fists and nodded.

I couldn't back out now. I needed answers. I went towards Emmet and stood in front of him. He looked at me and for a second I could see a totally different person.

His eyes held vulnerability, uncertainty. It was like he was in pain and was about to do something which he didn't want to.

He took my hands and led me outside the door.

We just stood there.

"I'm moving." were the words that escaped his mouth as he left my hands. It was like he regretted touching me.

My heart stopped and I gasped.

"What? "

"I'm moving Dakota. I'm going away to Italy." he said, his voice void of any emotions.

No words came out of my mouth. It was like my mind went blank. I just gaped at him closing and opening my mouth.

Yes I was angry and hurt. Yes I hated him for what he did yesterday but no matter what, he's my best friend!

"Why? " I asked swallowing back a sob.

He just sighed and glanced at me with cold stone eyes. And in an instant that vulnerable Emmet was gone replaced by a different one.

"I just wanted to say goodbye. And I'm sorry if I was a jerk to you. Forget me Dakota. Forget about my proposal and about those days. Forget everything. " he said in a robotic voice.

I couldn't believe my ears at what they were hearing. How can he say that? How can he tell me to forget about those 14 years of friendship? How can he tell me to forget him?

My eyes couldn't control anymore and tears streamed down my face.

I sobbed. "Wh- why are you doing this?"

His body stiffened as he glanced at my face. It was like he was controlling himself from something.

Emmet's mom came out with my mom. His mom turned towards me and spoke "I'm about to do a job there so he has to go with me. I'm sorry honey you've to stay away from each other."

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. This was so sudden!

I saw him glancing somewhere else and his jaw clenched. I wanted to say something but suddenly he turned towards me and stopped me from doing it.

He stopped me by giving me a look of such hatred and disgust that I couldn't say anything..

His mom and my mom hugged each other. And then they both started walking towards their car. They went inside the car and drove off.

He didn't even glance at me.

Was all this a lie to him? Our friendship, our laughs together, his feelings.. Were they just a lie to him?

I was feeling so numb. It was like the ground under my feet was being swept away. Something broke inside me.

I turned towards my mom to see her deep in thoughts. Without a word I hugged her.

She hugged me back but I could sense she was thinking hard about something.

He's gone. My best friend - is gone.

A/n: a super long chapter!! It was really hard to write. I know it's hard for Dakota to take so much but the show must go on.

Enjoy.

Amy.